CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38 I’M NOT BERRY, YOU LITTLE BRAT

As he finished half the can in one go, he tilted his head back slightly, breathing out slowly, jaw tight.

Beer in hand, he turned and walked toward the living room, his footsteps echoing softly down the hall.

But the moment he stepped in, he froze.

His cold grey eyes landed on a small figure curled up on the couch. A soft blanket, a pair of plushies nestled beside her, and a girl fast asleep, her lashes fluttering gently, her lips slightly parted in the rhythm of sleep.

Isabella.

His brows furrowed.

What was she doing here?

Why hadn’t she gone to her room?

He took a slow sip from the can, his gaze lingering on her peaceful face, the faint smile still lingering on her lips as if she’d drifted into a dream.

She looked... small.

Soft.

And far too defenseless for a world like his.

Leonardo stood there for a long moment, staring at the girl curled up on the couch.

His beer can now dangled loosely from his fingers, forgotten, then it fell in floor.

The house was cold, marble floors and wide-open spaces never really held warmth and even in her blanket, Isabella looked small and vulnerable. Too much for his already tired, half-drunk mind to ignore.

He sighed quietly, ran a hand through his hair again, and muttered under his breath, "Tch... too cold to leave you here."

Without another word, he leaned down and carefully slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, simply let out a tiny breath as she leaned into him.

She was light. So light.

Her body pressed softly against his chest, and her skin was warm from sleep. Her hair brushed his neck, and a faint, baby-like scent clung to her—something floral, soft, sweet and innocent. It made his throat tighten strangely.

With one arm, he grabbed her bunny plushie off the sofa and tucked it on her stomach as he adjusted his hold. Her hand, still half-asleep, curled around it.

He carried her like that quiet, slow steps through the dark house, past the stairs, until he reached the second floor and pushed open the door to her room.

The moonlight spilled across the bed as he gently lowered her down onto the soft mattress.

But just as he was about to pull away—

A small pair of arms suddenly looped around his neck.

Her sleepy voice mumbled something incoherent, and before he could react, she’d pulled him closer, like hugging a plushie. Her cheek brushed against his jaw. Her breath was warm against his skin.

Leonardo froze. His body stiffened but then, the exhaustion, the cold, the beer... it all washed over him at once.

And in the next breath, without thinking, without resisting—

He gave in.

He slumped down slowly beside her, her arms still loosely around his neck. His head fell against the pillow, his hand resting near her waist.

The last thing he noticed before sleep swallowed him whole...was that she was warm.

***

Leonardo’s eyes blinked open slowly, the early morning light filtering softly through the curtains.

But something was off.

Warm.

Soft.

Close.

His body tensed instantly, instinct flaring as his senses came alive. He could feel someone’s breath against his neck. The warmth of a body pressed against his. Arms wrapped around him. His own hand resting against something... fragile.

His grey eyes snapped downward only to freeze.

Isabella.

She was nestled against his chest, her cheek resting right where his heartbeat was, her breath calm and even. Her arms were gently wrapped around him like he was the world’s softest pillow, and one leg had slipped over his like a lazy little kitten.

His jaw clenched slightly, trying to ignore the strange warmth blooming in his chest.

Right... last night...

He remembered the couch. The cold. Her small sleeping figure. The way she hugged his neck halfway through carrying her. And... how his tired body had simply shut down right beside her.

Now she was fully draped over him like a child hugging a stuffed animal in her sleep.

Leonardo let out a slow, silent exhale.

Why does she smell like... shampoo and marshmallows? he thought with slight disbelief. What kind of girl smells like this naturally?

He glanced at the clock. He needed to leave for the meeting soon. He couldn’t afford to wake her, but he definitely couldn’t be caught like this either.

Carefully, like disarming a bomb, he moved one hand to her shoulder. She stirred slightly. He froze.

Then gently...inch by inch he tried to slide her arm off his chest without waking her.

But the moment he shifted, her grip tightened, and she mumbled sleepily, "...don’t take Berry..."

Leonardo closed his eyes, cursed softly under his breath, and muttered with the faintest twitch of his lips, "I’m not Berry, you little brat."

Still, he moved slower, more careful now because as much as he wanted to escape this strange and... ridiculous mess,

he didn’t want to wake her.

He gently slipped her arm off his chest and eased himself out of bed, holding his breath like a man sneaking past tripwires. When her hand didn’t reach out for him again, he exhaled quietly.

Straightening up, he rubbed the back of his neck and stepped back, giving her one last glance.

She was still curled up peacefully, hugging her plushie now instead of him, completely unaware of how she’d unknowingly trapped the most feared man in the city overnight.

Tch... ridiculous, he thought, but there was a strange softness in his expression that he quickly buried.

He glanced down at his wrist.

His watch blinked back at him.

7:56 AM.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, and his calm steps turned into long, swift strides as he left her room.

He walked down the hallway, pulling his shirt straight, his fingers brushing through his still-messy hair. The usual composed coldness returned to his face as he headed straight for his room on the third floor.

By the time the clock struck 8:30, Leonardo was already back in his black suit, crisp and tailored to perfection. His silver cufflinks gleamed, and his hair was neatly combed back, no trace of the sleepy man from half hour ago.

To anyone else, he looked like the powerful, untouchable mafia king they all feared.

No one would’ve guessed that just minutes earlier, he had been lying in bed...

***

Isabella’s guitar class had been canceled today, but she didn’t even remember why until Aunt Clara gently reminded her.

"You’re attending the council meeting with Master Leonardo today, miss. It’s quite formal—you’ll be going as his wife."

"Ohhh..." Isabella blinked, then her eyes widened. "Oh no! I forgot!"

She scrambled to her feet, almost knocking over vase from the table. Her mind whirled with nervous excitement. She was really going to such an important event... with him?

By 3 p.m., the house became unusually busy. A small team of professionals arrived—stylists, makeup artists, dress consultants, all sent to prepare her. Isabella stood stiffly at first, unsure what to do, until one of the women gently guided her to a chair.

When they slipped the lavender gown over her, Isabella’s breath hitched. She held the fabric lightly in her fingers. It shimmered in the light, and even though she had no idea about fashion, she could tell, it was something stars wore on red carpets.

She looked down at it with awe. "Is this... really for me?"

No one answered directly. The professionals worked swiftly, focused and silent. As they began styling her hair, she kept asking tiny, curious questions...

"Why are you curling that part?"

"Does this spray smell like flowers to you?"

"Is that brush just for my eyebrows?"

Most of them just responded with cool, clipped answers, used to working with demanding clients and keeping things efficient. But Isabella didn’t mind the coldness. She was just thrilled to experience it all.

Then came the makeup–foundation, highlighters, soft colors she didn’t even know the names of. Her heart pounded a little as she watched her reflection change, slowly becoming more elegant, beautiful... grown-up.

Two hours passed in a blink.

When the team finally stepped back, announcing that they were done, Isabella stood up carefully, hands smoothing down her gown.

Just then, Lina stepped into the room.

She paused mid-step.

Her eyes widened, not with judgment but with genuine surprise.

Isabella had always been a simple girl in her eyes barefaced, soft, naturally sweet. But now, standing before her in that gown, there was something different. Still innocent... but shining.

"My goodness," Lina murmured, walking closer.

She smiled gently and took out her phone. "I wasn’t expecting this."

Without asking, she clicked a few quiet photos. Isabella blinked shyly, cheeks tinting again.

Lina looked at her fondly.

"Leonardo is going to be... surprised."

Just as Lina was admiring Isabella quietly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall followed by an unmistakable, dramatic whistle.

Jay.

He popped his head around the doorframe, his pink hair slightly tousled, a mischievous grin already forming on his lips.

"Whoa—who is this beauty?" he said, eyes widening as he stepped inside. "Wait... Isabella?!"

He blinked like he couldn’t believe it.